Friday, April 11, 2014

10:49 AM

Senate President Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, has decided to retire following the release of a videotape showing him discussing a possibly illegal campaign scheme.

Ellis' office said the longtime lawmaker is not doing interviews today, but planned to release a statement. He called his hometown newspaper today to announce his decision.

Ellis, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1970 and the Senate in 1982, has been a top Dem target in this fall's election, and state Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber, D-Appleton, announced plans last year to challenge him.

He also has been a target of some conservatives, who have openly pined for a primary challenge for the cantankerous lawmaker.

That talk ramped up after release of a video by the conservative group Project Veritas that showed Ellis -- a longtime campaign finance reform advocate -- at a Madison bar discussing the creation of a PAC and raising tens of thousands of dollars for his re-election campaign. After the tape was released, his campaign treasurer resigned.